The Year When Time Froze

Chapter 2

The lavender sunset was turning into a murky, gray sky. We hadn't been driving for that long, but it felt like forever. "Are we almost there?" I asked, peering out of the window. "We're here, actually." He smiled. We were pulling into a rocky driveway, we were bouncing like kernels ready to pop. It was like a path was cut straight through a forest, the trees where tall and thick, making a dome above us. I could see a house forming in the distance, I don't know if it was just the time of night, but it looked to be a brownish-orange color to the brick. The closer we got, the more I realized it wasn't just an ordinary house, it was a mansion. "Jackson Peter Rogue...where are we?!" I questioned, with my jaw dropped. He parked in the oddly large driveway, and I noticed a familiar face standing at the door. "No! Jackson you did not!" I yelled. He stayed silent as he got out of the car, going around back to grab our things. Alec emerged from the doorway, and can to assist him, I was hitting my forehead inside the car. "No, No, No!" I chanted. The car trunk was popped open, the boys began unloading the U-Haul as I pouted in my seat.

"That's cute." Jackson mocked as he walked by the car window. I decided to stop being petty, grabbed the last box out of the back, and headed inside. "Wow..." I gasped, while I took a step inside the front door. The ceiling was higher than normal, and it looked more than modern on the inside. The foyer was humongous, to the right was an old, beaten couch with a flat screen in front of it, a coat hanger by the door, and a stairwell heading down below to the left of me. "Where can I set this down?" i begged Alec, as i struggled to hold the box up. He took the box from my failing grip, and beckoned me to follow him, "I'll show you the way to your room." I nodded and continued to inspect the house, as i followed him to my room.  There was a made bed, and a very ugly rug on the ground next to it. The room was painted white, with a tint of pink. This is a cute room, almost feels like home. I told Alec to just set my things on the bed, and I could handle the decorating.

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I sat down on my bed, a fall breeze coming in through my open window. I had finally finished putting my room together, everything was coming along really well, I just had a few clothes to put away. As I was hanging up some of my hoodies, I heard a knock at my door, "Come in!" I said hidden away in the closet. "It's really coming along in here, looks good!" said a familiar voice. I peeked around the and saw Alec, my face flushed pink, "yeah, I guess so. Thanks" I softly giggle. I came from the closet and smiled at him, he gave a warm smile back "you've got something in your hair" he laughed. He reached up and took the tiniest of feathers from my hair, "it must have puffed out of one of my vests" I giggled. I watched the feather disappear onto the floor, and then suddenly I felt his finger tips touching my cheek. Our eyes met, and he put my hair behind my ear, "It was in your face" he stuttered, jerking his hand back. I opened my mouth, but before anything came out, there was an aggressive banging at my door.

"Alec! Are you in there?" Sammy busted in, and all at once, I pushed Alec into my closet and shut the door. She was now standing in my doorway, with a confused look on her face. "Hey! Sorry, I would have opened my door, but I was busy in my clos-" she stopped me mid sentence, "What are you doing in here?!" she exclaimed "and where's my boyfriend?" her eyes were narrowed. I shrugged, knowing good-and-well that he was behind me in the closet, "I just moved in, along with my brother. I haven't seen Alec around." she pouted like a four year old after I denied knowing his whereabouts, "Listen, girl. If I ever catch you with him or even looking at him in a desirable way, you're done for. I know how girls like you act." she stormed out slamming the door behind her. What did I ever do to her? I let go of the door handle, realizing I was gripping it quite tightly. Alec emerged from the clothes, "Man, is it hot in there" he laughed. I was zoned out, still looking towards the doorway, Girls like me? What's that supposed to mean? He waved his hand in front of my face,"I guess I'm needed elsewhere, I'll be around if you need me." he said quietly. There was an awkward glance between us before he left. Once the door was shut, I touched my cheek where his fingers just were. His touch was so gentle, and heart-warming. Am I a home wrecker?

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The smell of eggs and bacon filled the air of my room the next morning as I woke up. I felt like I had just slept like a baby for 12 hours. I'm in love with this bed. As I started stretching, there arose an excessive amount of chatter outside of my room. After fighting with myself about getting out of bed, I slipped from my bed to the floor. My hair was a mess from sleeping with the hood of my sweatshirt on. I put some joggers on and opened my door. The smell of bacon smacked me in the face as I opened my door, and unfamiliar faces were staring at me from the couch. "Morning Al!" Jackson said, from the kitchen, holding a plate of food. I made my way towards the kitchen, but I could feel someone's eyes burning into my back. "You're not even going to introduce yourself?" Sammy scoffed behind me. I turned around making eye contact with her, and just before I spoke, "Can you just let people live Samantha?" an unfamiliar voice called out. A tall, muscular girl emerged from behind the foyer wall, her hair was a tar black and in a high ponytail. Her biceps are covered in sporadic tattoos. Sammy folded her arms, and sat there, annoyed on her phone. The girl leaned in the doorway with a cup of coffee in her hands, "Don't worry about Sammy, she can be a huge-" Alec came from his room, and found a spot Sammy. "Never mind" the girl said rolling her eyes, everyone else was snickering.

Jackson went to find a spot on the couch, and I closely followed. Alec was a little groggy from only just waking up, but he cleared his throat, "Alright everyone, we have two new faces who just moved in! Jackson and Allie Ro-", he was struggling to remember our last name. "Rogue" Jackson finished for him. Both Jackson and I waved, everyone smiled at us, except for Sammy.

A quiet voice came from the right, it belonged to a petite, fragile looking girl with curly hazelnut hair. Her eyes were like the darkest blue of the ocean, you fell right into them by just looking. "I'm Addy," she said softly "My girlfriend Lilly is downstairs napping. Not sure when you'll ever see her up in the daylight." Jackson looked taken back, "So, you're saying that you like girls?" I immediately pinched Jackson's side trying to shut him up. The girl, who was holding coffee, yelled across the room , "Is there a problem with it?" she said sternly. Jackson quickly shook his head, "Oh! No, I worded that wrong. I've just never met a gay person before, and I thought it was cool" his face was a bright red. Addy was giggling, but reassured him that she took no offense to the comment. After a moment of silence, the girl with coffee spoke again, "My name is Tori, I'm the owner of this house, so of course I'm Alec and Jay's older sister." Jay was a thin, muscular Asian kid, with very curly black hair. He was a senior in high school, and decided to live with his siblings rather than at home. "Yes Jay is adopted, hope that's chill with you too" she joked while staring at Jackson. Jackson's face was a bright red again, he tried hiding his face on my shoulder as everyone laughed. 

After Jay, the introduction circle went around the couch. There was a set a triplets: Maddie, Max, and Savannah, who insisted that you called her Savvy. Each of their faces were filled with freckles, and minor features that gave it all away. Pure brown hair, dark-brown eyes, and small chiseled noses. I felt Sammy's eyes on me the entire time, and when I looked over I discovered it wasn't only her eyes that were locked with mine. "I'm Samantha" she said suddenly, "I'm Alec's girlfriend, as you should already know." She turned his face by grabbing his chin, and began to make out with him in front of everyone. Is this really necessary? I nodded with a gross look on my face as she started making eye contact with me during her session of face sucking. "I bet you wish that was you" Jackson whispered in my ear. He grunted as I punched him in the stomach, and gave my a sharp eye.

One by one, they all left the couch to get ready for the day, however Jackson and I stayed back and offered to do the dishes. It was a normal thing for us to work together, nevertheless it was odd if we did our chores separately. "Al, I think we should talk about the elephant in the room" Jackson said as he put plates away. He was leaning against the counter waiting for my attention, though I didn't want to give it to him because I knew exactly what he was referring too. "Can we maybe talk about this is a more private setting?" I muttered. He left out a deep sigh, and stood next to me at the sink, "This problem of your better not make us the weird twins again, or worse, kicked out of the house" he said quietly. The water from the sink was crashing against the dishes, so I knew it was hard for anyone to hear over the noise. "It's not a problem anymore, I'm fine. I was a weird kid and I got over that" I stated firmly. Jackson gave me a not-so-reassuring look, but we continued to finished the dishes silently. Gosh, if Jacks finds out you lied about this 'problem' he's going to be ticked. I can keep my impulses under control...I hope.